Monday, Apr. 04, 2011
Nikki Haley
Age: 39
Occupation: Governor of South Carolina
Previous TIME 100 appearances: 0
Tea Party darling Nikki Haley rode 2010's anti-incumbent wave to make history as South Carolina's first female and Indian-American governor. And although she beat Establishment candidates to win the Republican primary with 65% of the vote, the journey wasn't easy, as Haley faced racially charged attacks and allegations of extramarital affairs throughout the campaign.